Anti-Smith IE Group to Target His Ties to Quinn

The Democrat recently hired a finance director.

A “third party independent expenditure group is in the process of forming” that “will argue that” state Rep. James Smith (D) “should be disqualified based on his proximity to” political consultant Richard Quinn, whose firm is the subject of an “ongoing, multi-jurisdictional investigation into corruption in state government.” Their evidence includes a “picture of Smith and suspended state representative Rick Quinn, Richard’s son, hamming it up at a victory party for liberal Columbia, S.C. mayor Steve Benjamin—a former Quinn ally and supporter of Smith’s 2018 candidacy.”

The group will also “reportedly remind voters of his prior representation of” state Attorney General Alan Wilson (R), “a longtime Quinn client who only recently severed ties from the scandal scarred firm.”

“This group is planning to raise—and spend—anywhere from $750,000 to $1 million targeting Smith.” (FITSnews)

NEED MONEY TO COUNTER IT. Smith has hired Cory Alpert as his finance director. He previously worked on the advance team for Hillary Clinton’s 2016 presidential campaign. (Hotline reporting)